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BA Athletics Club News Digest 27th November 2023

Events Calendar - online here

Events marked "#" are points scoring for the club's participation trophy - for the 2023 title.

Club Event Map: [Clickable link to Google Maps] [parkrun run by club members updated 4th October 2023]

For future weeks: inclusions, with photos, please to Roderick Hoffman at news@barunner.org.uk.

Results for Next Week

Please help me by sending in your results, for instance by filling in the tables below and forwarding to News@barunner.org.uk. Some events will have "Prompts" set up in Facebook. These allow the posting of a single image and some text and make it easy to flip through everyone's entries.

Monthly Mile (please submit your November Mile performance by the end of the month for publication in 4th December digest):

Run one mile and send me your time or add the details to the prompt in Facebook. The mile can be somebody else's formal event or even one mile within a longer run. I'll then produce a fancy graph showing your time this month compared to those of other people and previous runs over the last year: [no need to submit if your best mile is one of the Arethusa miles, I'll check the tables].

Mile Participant Location Date How Measured Duration/Time Comment: e.g. event
 

Weekly Athletic Achievement (by Sunday evening) or use the Facebook group prompt:

Participant Event Distance Location Day/Start Time or Duration Details or comment, and other achievements
e.g. Running

# Winter Handicap Result November 2023

A dry but chilly evening welcomed the runners to Bedfont for the second leg of the Winter 5 mile handicap series.  Aircraft were coming in to land after crossing Hatton Road. Three runners who had run in October were missing after choosing to fly to USA to celebrate “Thanksgiving”.  The best four scoring results from six will be taken into consideration at the end of the series so missing one month is not too critical – indeed it is possible to join in December and still end up winning at the end of March.

The majority slowed on the second lap, but only slightly – the exceptions were Amanda Coombs and Chris Kelly who both ran the second lap half a minute faster.  Chris Kelly had arrived late leaving no time for a warm-up and having settled down improved significantly on his time from October.  Alan Anderson walked/jogged a single clockwise lap in 37:34 while Mike Coombs walked the course anticlockwise in 44:30.  Runners enjoyed takeaway Indian and Pizzas delivered to the club house afterwards.

Times

  Nov. target first half finish Faster v target Slower v target Ranking determinent points Dec. target
Steve Hiller 01:01:00 29:51 1:00:43 00:17   00:17 23 1:00:45
Benita Scaife 52:45 26:44 53:51   00:56 01:52 15.5 53:45
John Scaife 52:45 26:34 53:51   00:56 01:52 15.5 53:45
Amanda Coombs 47:00 23:07 45:46 01:14   01:14 18 45:45
Stephen Taylor 47:00 23:06 46:43 00:17   00:17 23 46:45
Chris Kelly (late start) 43:45 20:53 41:13 02:32   02:32 14 41:15
Paul Watt 33:45 >  >  >  >  >  >  33:45
Julie Barclay 38:15 >  >  >  >  >  >  38:15
Scott Davison 44:15 >  >  >  >  >  >  44:15
Roderick Hoffman 51:30 >  >  >  >  >  >  51:30

Next leg - Wednesday 13th December.

Steve Newell

# Club Participation Points Update for November

Since the last update there have been five events; two cross-countries matches plus the Milocarian's Run-of-the-Month, and two of the Winter Handicaps. A total of 50 points have been given out to 29 club members and associates. The surprising result is that only one more participant has achieved the ten point recognition margin so well done to Julie Barclay. Perhaps someone you are close to will join you next month! 14 participants have now achieved the ten points and another 17 have six to nine points. With five events left of this year's list any or all of these could be recognised by the end of the year. With most of the remaining events you score as many points walking as you do running and there are double points for helping with the event, which on the 20th would include cheering on the runners.

The remaining events are:

  • December Run-of-the-Month of the Perivale Five on Sunday 3rd December #
  • The December 5 Mile Handicap on Wednesday 13th December #
  • The KLM Beach Run on Saturday 16th December #
  • Our Club Xmas mile event on 20th December #
  • The Round Heathrow Run on Thursday 28th December #

The top three on the list are now separated by just two points so it is going to be very tight as to who will get presented with the Tom Rowley Plate at this year's awards (presented next year).

Roderick Hoffman

Recent Activity Achievements

14 members' achievements were communicated to me.

Colleague Activity Distance Course When Duration Comments
Adrian Haines  Race 5km Serpentine Last Friday of the Month 5k Fri 00:17:35 Fastest 5k for 6 years and second fastest in 12 years.
Andy Rayner Various Sunday late fast walk in the estate in 10m 37s. Monday fast walk to Cox Green park and jog home in 28m 44s. Wednesday XC in 73m 8s. Saturday XC 41m 53s.
Barry Walters mixed Run/Walk 4.5km Bracknell Thur am 00:30:32 3 x 10 minutes quicker tempo with a minute walk recovery in between. Later did a virtual 30 minute cycle sprint workout including power endurance and two power Tabata. 3rd week of my Nov. running challenge and I am up to 34th out of 185 with 49.35km completed.
Benita Scaife  Race 5miles Maidenhead AC Helpers Handicap (White Alltham Airfield). Tue 00:50:51 We ran the Maidenhead AC helpers’ handicap. Members who help at the Easter 10 race can run the course later in the year while those who ran for the team on Good Friday take a turn marshalling…
John Scaife  Race 5miles Maidenhead AC Helpers Handicap (White Alltham Airfield). Tue 00:50:51 ...It’s a wide loop around White Waltham airfield which you can do once for 5 miles or twice for 10. We did the 5 miler in 50:51. Picture shows us on the start line.
David Duggan Nothing Weedon Island Preserve Entrance Gate (80 miles from Orlando) Thur am It’s become an annual tradition for me to travel to the USA for Thanksgiving week - mainly to Florida. Escaping the British autumn weather is one benefit - the extra Thanksgiving parkrun is another. Today I had planned to do Weedon Island Reserve parkrun starting at 8:00am but it had a late cancellation.
James Edwards  Race Half-M Cardiff Half Trail 02:10:00 Cardiff 1/2 trail - a wet sloppy bog run. 500m elevation chip time 2:10…decent training towards marathon in April I think
Julie Barclay parkrun 5km Fletcher's Cove Sat am 00:22:34 Second parkrun in three days
Paul Watt parkrun 5km Fletcher's Cove Sat am 00:19:49 Second parkrun in three days
Petra Otto Nursing At home Best achievement this week was to do as I was told, nursing my finger after the op, which has to be kept elevated. Another week to go…
Piers Keenleyside  Race 5km Serpentine Last Friday of the Month 5k Fri 00:24:32 Best achievement this week was the Serpentine Last Friday Of The Month 5K in Hyde Park. A bit too cold and windy for me - at least I managed another sub-25 with 24:32. Also saw Adrian Richard Haines there again who did a speedy 17:35.
Roderick Hoffman parkrun 5km Kensington, Maryland Sat am 00:28:47 Perfect conditions for running - cool and dry and a largely flat double out-and-back course. 28:47 was my watch time - I was given the result of the person ahead of me. Over 3 minutes quicker than Saturday's parkrun!
Stephen Taylor Running 9.34miles To, round and from Gunnersbury parkrun Sat am 01:36:22 Another parkrun sandwich, Gunnersbury, as Northala was cancelled as they didn't have enough volunteers. The first part of the Gunnersbury course gets quite congested if you want to get a move on from the get go, and it's a bit hillier than Northala.
Steve Hillier Cycling 20km Hillingdon Sun 01:29:00 Exploring a couple of new areas, Warrender Park and Highgrove Woods, then chickening out on cycling through the Stafford Road Open Space (Good for boots, not for cycle tyres with road treads!)

Week achievement photos

parkrun Results for Thanksgiving Day in the US and Saturday 18th November

3 and 37 activities are recorded below. Please get in touch if your activity is missing.

Club parkrunner parkrun Run# Pos Time Age Grade Comment
Emma Moreton Bedfont Lakes 668 43 0:26:52 58.13% run #341, 273rd at Bedfont.
Joe NOLAN Black Park 687 300 0:34:06 50.59% run #444, never been exactly 300th before
Ian Haylock Bushy Park 958 89 0:19:53 75.36% fourth run in five weeks under 20 minutes
Ian CUNNINGHAM Bushy Park 958 575 0:26:44 60.54% run #530, 420th at Bushy
Diana Smith Bushy Park 958 1258 0:47:34 50.07% 11 second PB.
Janet Smith Chichester 407 178 0:47:22 39.83% first run at Chichester, run #164, park #67
Piers KEENLEYSIDE Chipping Norton School 126 51 0:28:52 58.66% ninth run at Chipping Norton School, P-Index is 6, Wilson Index is zero
Denis FOXLEY Church Mead 85 51 0:35:15 52.86% 2nd run at Church Mead, P-Index is 3, Wilson index is 3
Joan FOXLEY Church Mead 85 58 0:41:17 57.69% 6th run at Church Mead, P-Index is 4, Wilson Index is 1
Scott DAVISON Crane Park 533 89 0:29:20 51.08% run #440, 95th at Crane Park
Ben CHAYTOW Crane Park 533 143 0:52:58 27.19% Walking with the tail group
Christopher T KELLY Dinton Pastures 213 37 0:23:51 66.11% 14th run at Dinton Pastures, Wilson Index stays on 146
Paul WATT Fletcher’s Cove 347 2 0:19:49 79.56% 2nd finisher, 1 second quicker than on Thursday, run #273, park #171. BA Male record (from Roderick).
Julie BARCLAY Fletcher’s Cove 347 11 0:22:34 84.79% F1. Quickest woman in her age group ever at Fletchers Cove (parkrun), park #174. BA first lady and age grade record.
Alastair HESLOP Guildford 495 Run Director at Guildford
Stephen K TAYLOR Gunnersbury 548 328 0:29:05 55.13% Northala Fields cancelled due to insufficient volunteers.
Alice BANKS Higginson, Marlow 171 108 0:30:07 70.45% 64th run at Marlow.  River level down a bit this week.
Murray Hogge Hilly Fields 523 80 0:25:10 65.43% first run at Hilly Fields, park #12
Frankie HOGGE Hilly Fields 523 81 0:25:11 58.77% first run at Hilly Fields, park #16. BA fastest lady (from Julie).
Steve NEWELL Houghton Hall 236 195 0:48:40 42.19% 3rd run at Houghton Hall,  Still chasing the elusive 197th finishers token. Regular Keith not present.
Benita SCAIFE Leavesden Country 57 58 0:35:02 61.51% first run at Leavesden Country, park #111
John SCAIFE Leavesden Country 57 59 0:35:03 49.74% first run at Leavesden Country, park #119
Jacqueline MUSSELWHITE Littlehampton Prom 165 88 0:27:12 65.69% run #149, 2nd at Littlehampton in a matter of weeks
Mike DENNISON Osterley 451 8 0:20:11 83.07% 18th run at Osterley
Maria JOVANI Osterley 451 10 0:20:17 79.87% F1, best time at Osterley since before Covid-19, 22nd run at Osterley, P-Index is 8
Bob BANNISTER Osterley 451 94 0:25:58 65.79% run #485, 51st at Osterley
Trish MCCABE Osterley 451 119 0:27:38 58.02% 58th run at Osterley
Anne Bannister Osterley 451 207 0:31:48 65.72% run #303, 42nd at Osterley, P-Index is 5
Alan ANDERSON Osterley 451 283 0:46:36 58.48% run #685, 133rd at Osterley, P-Index is 4, Wilson Index is 2
Sarah GORDON Prudhoe Riverside 286 60 0:40:03 52.18% First BA lady. Regular Neil not present. Park #147
Ben Kelly Reading 617 15 0:22:18 57.92% run #91
Roderick HOFFMAN Roosevelt Island DC 296 40 0:32:09 51.22% 20th parkrun this year, 19 different, 18 new to me, in 7 different countries. park#364
Fiona Bishop Seaford Beach 164 68 0:25:04 80.85% BA best age grade (from Julie), park #83
Harjit Jhooti Southampton 521 713 0:33:29 54.06% first run at Southampton, park #107, highest ever parkrun finish token number
Melanie Miller Southampton 521 796 0:36:37 49.43% first run at Southampton, park #144
David DUGGAN Weedon Island Preserve 156 30 0:32:52 50.10% Success - on the second attempt. Thanksgiving run cancelled at very short notice. 2nd run at Weedon Island Preserve. No improvement on BA records.
David Cowell Wollaton Hall 120 10 0:19:22 73.24% run #87, 8th at Wollaton Hall (Nottingham)
Paul WATT Kensington 235 7 0:19:50 79.50% [Thanksgiving] BA best male time (from David Duggan) and help with course setup
Julie BARCLAY Kensington 235 18 0:22:29 85.10% [Thanksgiving] 3rd female. BA first female and best age grade and helped with course set up.
Roderick HOFFMAN Kensington 235 51 0:28:41 57.41% [Thanksgiving] 10th US parkrun.

parkrun Review 23rd and 25th November 2023

The county focus moves onto Buckinghamshire this week which stretches from Black Park in the South to a cluster around Milton Keynes in the North.

Black Park was one of the early parkruns starting back in 2009 and will be notching up its 700th running through the woods by early Spring 2024.  Moving up the map we have Higginson (Marlow) which includes an out-and-back stretch along the Thames towpath which can get sometimes flooded (and cancelled) after a lot of rain.  Much of long-established Wycombe Rye (over 500 runs) is on grass and features shallow steps to climb (but not descend).  The youngest parkrun in the county is Church Mead (Amersham) which features a memorable challenging climb on each of the two laps.  Over at the single lap Wendover Woods which started in 2018 there is plenty of freewheeling downhill in the first half but the finish is back up near the summit!  Aylesbury started in 2013 to the North of the town and Rushmere (Leighton Buzzard) a couple of years later having been preceded by Buckingham in 2014.  Near the top of the county the parkrun by the sporting centre of Milton Keynes at Willen Lake started as long ago as 2010 and has been run well over 600 times.  More recently, Linford Wood started up in 2016 and Bury Field at Newport Pagnell is another post-Covid parkrun in the county and has just celebrated its hundredth run.  It is far less crowded than many parkruns, often with fewer than 100 runners/walkers.  A bit of a trek but if you need some low numbers for your position bingo it is worth considering!

This week included additional parkruns in USA on the Thanksgiving holiday (Thursday) and our usual club enthusiasts were there to join in the celebrations.  Thursday parkruns often attract more runners than Saturday parkruns and this year was no exception.  Former member James Shoulder (17:46) had a spectacular run at Delaware and Raritan Canal parkrun coming in 4 clear minutes ahead of anyone else.   David Duggan had to endure the bitter disappointment of arriving at Weedon Island Preserve parkrun on Tampa Bay in good time for his Thanksgiving run only to find it had been cancelled at very short notice.  He had to wait until Saturday to try again (32:52).  Paul Watt (19:50), Julie Barclay (22:29) and Roderick Hoffman (28:41) enjoyed a Thursday run at Kensington (Washington DC) and then split up for other runs nearby on Saturday.  Back in the UK it was a chilly, even frosty, start in many places. 

Steve Newell

Matters Arising - Buckinghamshire parkruns

Black Park is by far the most popular of the Bucks parkruns with 38 club members having run there 607 times. That includes 395 times by Joe Nolan. Oddly, although Joe has run at 23 different parkruns, he has yet to run in any other Bucks parkrun! Wycombe Rye is the next most popular with 22 club runners running 160 times, including 106 by Tony Barnwell (that is up those steps every week for two whole years!). Our next finish at Higginson, Marlow will be our 100th there and includes 64 by Alice Banks who helped set it up. Church Mead is the next most popular with only 20 finishes - including 5 by Joan (as a member, she has also run it once as a non-member). Buckingham has only been run by three members, Richard Ruffell and Roderick Hoffman ran event #3 and then Sarah Gordon ran event #110 in May 2016...and no club member since. I don't know why, it's a nice one with good parking and facilities. Last week they held event #429.

Last week I spoke about club members being Complete Berks. I don't know what the equivalent term for Buckinghamshire is, but I'm the only club member having run at all eleven parkruns. Richard Ruffell, when a member, ran seven of them and Alice Banks has also run seven. Several club members have run five of them...but that is less than half of the total.

Club Finish Positions

The reference to Joe Nolan's first 300th position finish got me thinking...

Club members have finished in all consecutive finish positions from 1st to 471st. We've had four 471st finishes by Grant Strydom, Alan Anderson and John Coffey at Bushy Park and Steve Newell at Gunnersbury. We had five 473rd finishes by Grant, John, and Bob Bannister at Bushy Park, by Alan at Gunnersbury and by Janet Smith at Ferry Meadows. But we've never had a 472nd finish. The next gaps are at 490th, 496th and 502nd.

Based on the mode, Club members have most often finished in 19th place, a total of 119 times (18 of those being by Chris Kelly). Next most finish position is 18th, 107 times. Other positions finished 100 or more times are 8th, 17th, 24th, 27th and 33rd.

Club average positions by year

Our average finish position is between 140th and 141st. Not surprisingly this has varied over the parkrun years (see graph). The lowest annual average position was 42 in 2005 - but we did only have John Coffey running that year, finishing twice with 51st and 33rd at Bushy Park with field sizes of 128 and 109. The following year John's five runs had a higher average position, 48.8. In 2007 Alan Anderson, Helen Smith and others joined in parkrun and John stopped. Gary Rushmer recorded a couple of low finishes (28th, then 18th) but the average finish position rose to 184. Our faster runners then discovered parkrun so that our average position improved, reaching down to 87th in 2012. That was when I started, other club members got older and parkruns got bigger so that our average slipped back to 179th in 2020. It has improved a bit since then - so far this year it is 157th.

John's initial age grade was over 80% but as more of us have joined in with the spirit of parkrun our average has slipped down to its current annual average of 60%.

Roderick Hoffman

 

Full club parkrun database - {read access to club parkrun database} - Download or save a copy, and explore at your leisure.

Club Event Map: [Clickable link to Google Maps]

Roderick Hoffman

Retired Runners lunch

All interested in a pub lunch by the river near Kew Bridge on Monday 11th December please let Steve Newell know this week.
Free street parking is possible.

> Steve Newell

Note that all are welcome, regardless of your employment status or running capability.

Next Digest - Results, news, pictures, feedback, jokes, stories - send them to the editor, Roderick Hoffman, at news@barunner.org.uk.

Not for you, no longer interested? remove me please.

Difficulty viewing this? Read it from the website:- http://www.barunner.org.uk/News Latest.shtml. Club website: www.barunner.org.uk.

 

      

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